The comparative and superlative constructions are how we say good, better, and best in French. There are different words to use depending on the situation. Le comparatif 1. Bon When comparing two things in French using the verb être, we use the phrase "meilleur que" to say 'better than'.
Le chocolat est bon. (Chocolate is good.) La crème glacée est meilleure que le chocolat. (Ice cream is better than chocolate.) Les bonbons sont meilleurs que le chocolat. (Candy is better than chocolate.) Le glaçage est meilleur que le chocolat. (Icing is better than chocolate.) Les crêpes sont meilleures que le chocolat. (Crepes are better than chocolate.)
The words 'bon' and 'meilleur' are both adjectives as they describe nouns. As seen in the above examples, the endings change to match the first noun in the sentence.
masculine singular
masculine plural
feminine singular
feminine plural
meilleur
meilleurs
meilleure
meilleures
2. Bien When comparing two actions in French using verbs other than être, we use the phrase "mieux que" to say 'better than'.
Les Maple Leafs jouent bien. (The Leafs play well.) Les Penguins jouent mieux que les Maple Leafs. (The Penguins play better than the Leafs.) Les Red Wings jouent mieux que les Maple Leafs. (The Red Wings play better than the Leafs.)
In the examples above, we are compaing how well the teams play, which is an action. The verb used is 'jouer' and not 'être'. The words 'bien' and 'mieux' are adverbs as they describe verbs. As seen in the above examples, the endings do not change to match the first noun in the sentence.
Le superlatif 1. Bon To say that one thing is the best using the verb être, we use the phrase "le meilleur".
Le chocolat est bon.(Chocolate is good.) La crème glacée est meilleure que le chocolat. (Ice cream is better than chocolate.) Les bonbons sont les meilleurs.(Candy is the best.)
The phrase "le meilleur" is also an adjective since it describes nouns. Its changes are listed below.
masc. sing.
masc. plur.
fém. sing.
fém. plur.
le meilleur
les meilleurs
la meilleure
les meilleures
2. Bien To say one action is the best using verbs other than être, we use the phrase "le mieux".
Les Maple Leafs jouent bien.(The Leafs play well.) Les Red Wings jouent mieux que les Maple Leafs. (The Red Wings play better than the Leafs.) Les Penguins jouent le mieux.(The Penguins play the best.)
The phrase "le mieux" is an adverb since it describes verbs. It does not change.
Other Superlative Forms
1. Plus We use "le/la/les plus" to say 'the most'.
La musique classique est la musique la plus touchante. (Classical music is the most touching.) Ils sont les styles les plus calmants. (They are the most calming styles.)
2. Moins We use "le/la/les moins" to say 'the least'.
La musuqe d’opéra est le style le moins branché. (Opera is the least cool style.) Ces chansons sont les moins émouvants. (These songs are the least moving.)
3. Pire We use "le pire" to say 'the worst'.
Rebecca Black chante le pire.(Rebecca Black sings the worst.)
The comparative and superlative constructions are how we say good, better, and best in French. There are different words to use depending on the situation.
Le comparatif
1. Bon
When comparing two things in French using the verb être, we use the phrase "meilleur que" to say 'better than'.
Le chocolat est bon. (Chocolate is good.)
La crème glacée est meilleure que le chocolat. (Ice cream is better than chocolate.)
Les bonbons sont meilleurs que le chocolat. (Candy is better than chocolate.)
Le glaçage est meilleur que le chocolat. (Icing is better than chocolate.)
Les crêpes sont meilleures que le chocolat. (Crepes are better than chocolate.)
The words 'bon' and 'meilleur' are both adjectives as they describe nouns. As seen in the above examples, the endings change to match the first noun in the sentence.
2. Bien
When comparing two actions in French using verbs other than être, we use the phrase "mieux que" to say 'better than'.
Les Maple Leafs jouent bien. (The Leafs play well.)
Les Penguins jouent mieux que les Maple Leafs. (The Penguins play better than the Leafs.)
Les Red Wings jouent mieux que les Maple Leafs. (The Red Wings play better than the Leafs.)
In the examples above, we are compaing how well the teams play, which is an action. The verb used is 'jouer' and not 'être'.
The words 'bien' and 'mieux' are adverbs as they describe verbs. As seen in the above examples, the endings do not change to match the first noun in the sentence.
Le superlatif
1. Bon
To say that one thing is the best using the verb être, we use the phrase "le meilleur".
Le chocolat est bon. (Chocolate is good.)
La crème glacée est meilleure que le chocolat. (Ice cream is better than chocolate.)
Les bonbons sont les meilleurs. (Candy is the best.)
The phrase "le meilleur" is also an adjective since it describes nouns. Its changes are listed below.
2. Bien
To say one action is the best using verbs other than être, we use the phrase "le mieux".
Les Maple Leafs jouent bien. (The Leafs play well.)
Les Red Wings jouent mieux que les Maple Leafs. (The Red Wings play better than the Leafs.)
Les Penguins jouent le mieux. (The Penguins play the best.)
The phrase "le mieux" is an adverb since it describes verbs. It does not change.
Other Superlative Forms
1. Plus
We use "le/la/les plus" to say 'the most'.
La musique classique est la musique la plus touchante. (Classical music is the most touching.)
Ils sont les styles les plus calmants. (They are the most calming styles.)
2. Moins
We use "le/la/les moins" to say 'the least'.
La musuqe d’opéra est le style le moins branché. (Opera is the least cool style.)
Ces chansons sont les moins émouvants. (These songs are the least moving.)
3. Pire
We use "le pire" to say 'the worst'.
Rebecca Black chante le pire. (Rebecca Black sings the worst.)